Dr. Kris Danford

Biography

Kris Danford joins Penn State’s School of Theatre as Associate Professor of Voice and Speech. She comes from the University of Michigan and has previously held appointments at Southern Oregon University, University of Iowa, and the University of West Florida. Kris’ professional work as a voice, text, and dialect coach includes coaching for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Stage, and Urbanite Theatre. As a professional actor, she has appeared in regional theatres across the country, including Asolo Repertory Theatre and Riverside Theatre, and has contributed to the Ashland New Plays Festival. In research, she is currently leading a multidisciplinary study that utilizes theatre-based voice training as a potential tool for women in childbirth. Kris holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an MFA in Acting from the Florida State University Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She is also a certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework.

Research Interests